The league kicks off its 19th season this weekend with a full programme of Premier Division matches.

Champions Albion Sports start their quest for a fourth title in five seasons with a game against old rivals Oakenshaw.

Albion got off to a great start last Friday with 2-0 win over the County Amateur champions Silsden in the county's FA Charity Shield (an annual match between the winners of the County Cup at Saturday and Sunday level) at Cougar Park.

The club have signed several promising youngsters for the new term. James Nestor has moved up from 1B's Woodman Rovers and Craig Farrald looks other useful squad addition. Winger Scott Price has switched from Albion's other main rivals East Bowling Unity and though Albion will miss Stefan Zoll, who is working in Germany for most of the season, the former Whitby striker has brought in his own replacement in Curtis Barnard (Frickley Athletic).

Oakenshaw stick to the same players with the addition of a couple of young players from Wibsey.

After their season to remember when they broke the Unity/Albion mould by winning the District Cup and reaching the last 16 of the FA Sunday Cup at the first attempt, Fairweather Green open their 2003-04 campaign with a visit from Calverley.

Fairweather will miss winger Greg Watts who is expected to miss most of the season while he awaits a hernia operation.

Jamie Carroll (wing) and Paul Crossley (centre half) have moved up from Chellow and Queens Hotel respectively, while Ian Flanagan's 16-year-old son Mark (left wing) has impressed in the pre-season games. Other additions are returning keeper Craig Roberts and Chris Graham from Queens Athletic.

Steve Crawford is manger Roger Eli's major signing at Queensbury, with tomorrow's visitors at Foxhill being East Ward.

Premier newcomers Pudsey Royal play host to Crown and the other promoted side, Holmewood, are at Bolton Woods.

Sundays game between East Bowling Unity and Queens Athletic has been postponed due to Queens involvement in the final of the Heaton Cup. Unity, without Mark Betts until near Christmas, have signed his Wibsey team-mate Damian Melvin, youngster Mark Exley and striker Ben Smithson from the defunct Wrose Bull.

Queens have lost two of their best players, Paul Gelder and Matthew Morgan, to neighbours Chellow, who have appointed Dave Morgan as manager.